Berhoff Home Building​ Blog

​The goal of building a true Zero Net home means, no gas bills and no electric bills.

BerHoff Homes are built to the highest efficiency levels. Their construction process defines their passion for the environment as well as the health of families living within their zero net energy homes.

The building process, form, and function of a Berhoff Home focuses on energy and water efficiency, making use of any and all natural green resources in building design and materials; and both indoor and outdoor environmental quality. That being said, most of the energy efficient processes, materials and technologies are tucked away and hidden from sight.

However, many of the energy-efficient qualities of Berhoff Homes' green homes are easy to spot like appliances, windows, and water heating systems which are ENERGY STAR® rated. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems, dramatically lower the energy consumption of the home as a whole. Every home Berhoff Homes constructs is ‘renewable energy ready’ for any number of renewable energy sources to be installed at any time.​Indoor air quality is raised and maintained by verifying that heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems (HVAC) are correctly sized and set to the size of the home. Strategically located fans replace stale damp air with fresh air regularly. Low-VOC paints and finishes also play a significant role in keeping a clean, fresh indoor environment.

All BerHoff Homes now meet the EPA Indoor airPLUS program. This keeps off-gassing at bay and minimizes its potential danger to your health at bay. The Green Design Center is a highly valued partner in this process.

The planning of the lot, including the size, shape, and orientation of the home should take advantage of the natural daylight, should keep lighting usage to a minimum, and should use this strategy to manage heat loss or gain, depending on the season.

When it comes to the landscape of a true energy efficient home, plants should be native to the area and climate. Care should be given to planning and grouping vegetation by required watering and sunlight consumption. Paved surfaces should be kept to a bare minimum; made up of gravel, permeable pavers, and natural stone or grid systems.​BerHoff Homes’ builds are tested and verified, using the LEED-H building program. The Focus on Energy program will be utilized for this purpose. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program is our trusted partner in this process.

Providing for third-party verification on the energy efficiency certification of each of our homes, we are committed to environmental preservation and green building.

​BerHoff Homes, LLC is honored to build LEED-H certified homes. Over 60 percent of the houses built by BerHoff Homes meet the Focus on Energy program requirements and exceed the minimum standards of the LEED-H program. These steps and verification's lead to higher resale values and higher quality homes.